Q: We have been helping a 17 year old boy turns 18 in 4 months not our own. Are we liable for his actions were in Ca. ?
He has been with us a little over a year, we have a business to run and we try as much as possible to get him to school but is not effective. He bought and drives a motorcycle without a license or insurance, he has already been pulled over now I'm going with him to court. We have initiated the process for his legal license but he just doesn't get consequence. We want to help but have no authority towards him. we are uneasy about the consequence of him living with us as far as us being liable for his actions. He left his home because of emotional abuse from his stepfather etc. He's a good kid but fending for himself since more or less 15 has given him a sense of authority over himself I do what I want I'm a man. But when he is scares he says I'm just 17 we truly wish to help him and do not want to ask him to leave, to many situations in his young life have been negative. But cannot afford to jeopardise our lives or business due to his inability to understand consequence....thank you.
A: If you are not his biological or adoptive parent or his legal guardian you are not legally responsible or liable for his actions. You are responsible for your own actions however. Something to think about in the situation you have gotten yourself into here.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
